Squamish Day Trip with Local Hidden Gems

We are exploring Squamish on the way to Whistler for our Five Year Wedding Anniversary! In between Vancouver and Whistler, this quaint little town is known for their beautiful outdoors, and lively local community. I want to share a couple of hidden gems, from the best sandwiches and brioche donuts, to a beautiful 1 hour waterfall hike, that I’ve loved here in Squamish! Next time you’re road tripping to Whistler, don’t forget to stop for the local must-try’s at Squamish on the way!

Stop By Squamish On The Way To Whistler

We’re on the way to Whistler for our 5 Year Wedding Anniversary! To be honest, every time we drive up to Whistler, we try our best to find new local spots, and hidden gems along the way. One of our favorite places to explore is Squamish. Today, we’re stopping at Squamish for a half day lunch and outdoor adventure. Fun fact, Squamish is basically the halfway point between Vancouver and Whistler. So, it’s the perfect place to stop, stretch your legs, drop by cute local coffee shops and bookstores, and support local small businesses.

Sea to Sky Highway

One of the best parts about a Whistler weekend getaway is that the trip starts before you even get there. The drive from Vancouver to Whistler is called Sea to Sky Highway and it’s hands down one of the most beautiful drives in British Columbia. I tell all my friends about this drive. I think it’s so so stunning. You’re literally driving between the ocean and the mountains. And every time we do this drive, it feels like we’re starting a mini adventure. Instead of driving straight to Whistler, I always recommend making a few stops along the way, like Squamish!

Local Squamish Must-Try Spots

Buvette

The first stop is the Buvette. It is a really cute local restaurant that specializes in gourmet sandwiches. one of my favorite favorite sandwich shops here in Squamish. I’m not kidding. I actually look forward to this drive just to get this sandwich. They have amazing coffees, natural wines, and drinks. So, we got started with a Cafe Limonade ($6.50) and an Iced Americano ($5), which are both tasty and refreshing.

We were starving, so we got two sandwiches: the Meat Sando and the Staff Special. The thing about sandwiches is, they look so simple, but when everything ones together, it’s so fresh, and so delicious. The Meat Sando ($17.50) has pickled red onion, roasted red pepper, vegan pesto, chili spread, arugula, salami, prosciutto, fresh mozzarella. The Staff Special ($18.50) has almost all the same thing, with extra roasted marinated eggplants and banana peppers. The eggplants are a little tart, and has a little bit of a kick. It’s really, really good.

This is the perfect road trip lunch spot. It is so good that I highly recommend even going up for a day trip. There’s plenty of indoor and outdoor seating as well as parking spots. And, the food and drinks are super delicious. If you’re on the way to Whistler and are wondering what’s a great spot to take a quick lunch break, this is it!

Fox and Oak

Make sure to save your stomach for something sweet, because I highly recommend Fox and Oak for their delicious donuts. It is a community coffee and bake house in downtown Squamish loved by locals and tourists alike. They rotate between different specialty roasters for their coffee, and often have extra delicious pastries on display in their pastry case.

Fox and Oak specialize in handcrafted, naturally leavened brioche donuts, which is why they’re extra fluffy and rich. We got their Earl Grey Boston Cream ($6), which has a thick layer of chocolate glaze outside and rich earl grey pastry cream inside. But, our favorite is their maple walnut donut ($6), with a yummy maple icing that actually tastes like maple syrup, and a crunchy roasted flavor from the roasted walnuts. You have to get this, it’s a 10/10!

Alice and Brohm Ice Cream

This time in Squamish, we tried a brand new spot for ice cream: Alice and Brohm Ice Cream. Opened since 2017, this shop actually specialize in New Zealand-style real fruit ice cream. This means that they blend real fruit with soft serve ice cream right in front of you, so every serving is made to order.

We ordered their Strawberry and Raspberry Real Fruit Ice Cream ($7.50) to try. It has such a pretty pink color when the berries are blended in! It is very creamy, fruity, not too heavy or sweet, and honestly the perfect summer treat. It was so good in the heat!

Backcountry Brewing

After a waterfall walk, we headed over to Backcountry Brewing for a quick beer before finally heading to Whistler. This is one of our favorite breweries here in Squamish. They have tons of different craft beers on draft, with seasonal limited-edition beers. They’re also famous for their pizzas!

After a hike, this was such a fun apres-adventure vibe! It’s casual, lively, and the perfect place to grab a beer after a hike or during a road trip stop.

Cute Local Shops

Book Mountain

Book Mountain is one of those cute little book stores in Squamish that I can hang out in all day.It has 5 rooms of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that are filled to the brim with books. They have new and used books in every genre, rare titles, and also feature local authors. There’s also a collection of vinyl records. Inside, there’s also a fireplace, and a vintage type writer that you can type a note on.

Whether you’re looking for more book club options like me, or just curious about cute little shops along the way, Book Mountain is exactly the kind of shop you’ll love. And, you’d be supporting a local small business!

Arrowwood Games

Another charming little shop we came across is Arrowwood Games. This is the only dedicated board game store in the area. It is both a shop and a community game room where you can rent tables by the hour and hang out with other board game lovers. They have a TON of games and toys.

We stopped by to take a peek, and ended up buying Wavelength, our new favorite game! This is a team-based guessing game to find a bullseye on the colorful board. This will be great for hosting future gatherings at home! If you’re looking for fun card games to bring to Whistler on the way, or want to spend some time actually playing games, this is a great spot to stop!

Hiking Trails to Mamquam Falls

Before driving off to Whistler, I highly, highly recommend squeezing in something outdoorsy in Squamish. They have lots of trails, waterfalls, and beautiful hikes here. The one that we’re doing today is heading to Mamquam Falls, a free and short 1.6 km public trail that takes less than 1 hour to complete. However, I do think it’s a perfect little stop to stretch your legs before continuing the drive up to Whistler.

The hike itself is not long distance-wise. But, keep in mind it is quite steep and there’s a lot of rocks and branches on the way back. So, if you’re taking the public trail, make sure you’re actually wearing runners. I don’t think you need hiking shoes for this at all, but closed-toed shoes would really help.

You can also opt for the boardwalk, which is an easier walk with stairs, but costs $44 a person. You’ll get to see the same view, but I think it’s a good option for a relaxed walk. At the end, you get a beautiful waterfall. It is so stunning, the videos and photos do not do it justice.

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